Measles cases in Marshalls double but rate of infections is declining

The number of measles cases in the Marshall Islands has more than doubled from 214 last week to 433 as of yesterday.

But Public Health director, Dr Kennar Briand, says the number of cases being reported this week has slowed, leading him to hope that the outbreak is being contained in the wake of more than 14 thousand immunizations administered by health teams since the end of July.

Nearly all of the 433 reported cases are on Majuro, but three suspected cases, all in Marshall islanders who recently returned to Guam from Majuro, have been discovered by health officials in Guam.

The Ministry of Health is continuing to require passengers on all airlines to produce an immunization verification card issued by health authorities before they are allowed to board domestic or international flights.